Neuropsychological Assessment - What to Expect

What Is a Neuropsychological Assessment?

A neuropsychological assessment helps us understand how your brain is working. It looks at your thinking, memory, emotions, and behaviour. This can help explain any changes you’ve noticed and guide the best support for you.

It gives an objective (fair and unbiased) picture of how your brain is functioning. This helps your medical team understand your needs and plan the right care.

Why Might I Need One?

People are referred for many different reasons. The examples below are just some possibilities but not everyone will fit into these categories:

• Memory problems or dementia
• A stroke or brain injury
• Epilepsy or seizures
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Brain tumour
• Concerns about your memory/thinking skills or changes to behaviour/emotions
• Changes in thinking or emotions after illness or injury

What Happens During the Assessment?

The assessment usually includes:

Initial appointments:

• Meeting with a Neuropsychologist to talk about your health, symptoms, and daily life

If you are referred for a cognitive assessment:

• Doing tasks that check how your brain is working. These might include:
• Memory tasks
• Problem-solving tasks
• Language and attention tests
• Questionnaires about mood or stress

You don’t need to prepare or study. There are no right or wrong answers—just do your best.

How Long Will It Take?

The assessment usually takes 1 to 4 hours, depending on what we need to look at. We’ll take breaks and go at your pace.

Is It Painful or Difficult?

No. The assessment is not physically painful. Some people find it tiring or frustrating, but we’ll support you throughout and make sure you’re comfortable.

What Do We Assess?

We may look at:

• Attention and concentration
• Verbal and visual memory
• Language and understanding
• Problem-solving and reasoning
• Processing speed
• Mood, anxiety, and stress
• Whether the test results are valid and reliable (i.e. whether they give a true picture of your abilities)

What Happens After?

We’ll write a report that:

• Explains what we found
• Answers the question your doctor asked
• Suggests ways to support you

We may also meet with you to talk through the results in person or by phone. With your permission, we may also share the results with your family or care team.

What If I Need Treatment?

If needed, we may offer short-term support to help with:

• Coping strategies for memory or thinking problems
• Emotional wellbeing
• Brief psychological therapy
• Advice for family or carers

Our treatment is usually goal-focused and short-term, based on what matters most to you.

If you need more intensive support, we may refer you to specialist rehabilitation services such as:

• The Frenchay Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit
• The Head Injury Therapy Unit (HITU

If you’re unsure about anything, please contact us.